kamala

plural kamalas

1. countableuncountableA small or medium-sized tree (Mallotus philippensis) in the spurge family, found in Asia and Australia.

   Synonyms: kamala tree, dyer's rottlera, kamala dye tree, monkey face tree, orange kamala, red kamala, scarlet croton

   1. uncountableusuallyAn orange or red powder obtained from the fruit capsules of this plant, used as dyestuff for colouring silk or wool, and employed as an anthelmintic.

      In a recent examination of commercial kamalas, the mean percentage of ash found was 35.17 per cent., using a platinum crucible and as high a temperature as a common Bunsen burner would supply.

      1907, C[onrad] Lewis Diehl, “Report on the Progress of Pharmacy. From July 1, 1906, to June 30, 1907”, in Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association at the Fifty-Fifth Annual Meeting Held at New York, N. Y., September, 1907 […], Baltimore: American Pharmaceutical Association, page 815

      2 more examples

      After stating the varieties met with in this country, […] he stated that the chief points to be observed in the treatment [of common tapeworm] were: a preliminary starvation of twenty-four hours, and the administration of a combination of kamala and male fern—namely, two drachms of kamala to be rubbed up with a little gum-and-water till an emulsion is formed, and then two drachms of oil of male fern to be added, and the whole triturated in a mortar, […]

      1875 December 4, “Medical Societies: Medical Society of London”, in James G. Wakley, editor, The Lancet, number 2727, London: John James Croft, page 803

      Mallotus Philippinensis, J. M. […] Though not of great importance this bush should not be passed on this occasion, inasmuch as the powdery substance investing the seed capsules constitutes the Kamala, which can be employed not only as an orange dye, but also as an anthelmintic remedy. The Hindoo silk-dyers use it for an orange colour, obtained by boiling the Kamala with carbonate of soda.

      1876, Ferd[inand] von Mueller, Select Plants Readily Eligible for Industrial Culture or Naturalisation in Victoria, Melbourne: M‘Carron, Bird & Co., page 124

      Synonyms: kamala tree, dyer's rottlera, kamala dye tree, monkey face tree, orange kamala, red kamala, scarlet croton

plural Kamalas

1. HinduismcountableuncountableAn epithet of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
2. countableuncountableKamala River (a river in Bihar, India).
3. countableuncountableA female given name from Sanskrit, masculine equivalent Kamal.

   On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” and in a lighthearted moment, explained — as she did during the last presidential election cycle — that in her blended family, her stepchildren affectionately call her Momala.

   2024 May 1, Charles M. Blow, “Kamala Harris Isn’t Americans’ ‘Momala.’ She’s Our Vice President.”, in The New York Times

plural Kamalas

1. A female given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew], variant of Tamara.

1. A town in Kathu district, Phuket Province, Thailand.